Alright, y'all are slow. I finished this book a week ago, and I was waiting for someone else to speak up, but I'm just going to bite the bullet.
I was surprised to like this book. I can't say I enjoyed it because it was painful to read about these boys. But that made it a good read. I was able to connect to Jesse (not so much Rise or Mason) and even his parents a little bit. I realized at the end that CJ and Rise are like Jesse's conscience, pulling him in either direction. And I liked that the whole time I knew which was the right thing to do, and I kept rooting for him and pleading for him not to go where Rise invited him. I like that I was able to connect with the characters, despite my complete removal from their situations.
I have a question: What was the purpose of the girl? (Was it Tania?) Character development? Attraction to the Rise course of action?
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Dude, I'm not playing the waiting game, I'm trying to find the time to write a post! Some people aren't on break... ;-)
I think Tania's "purpose" was partly to emphasize Jesse's immaturity in comparison to some of his peers, as well as to provide a parallel to Rise in some ways -- as a person drawn into a certain mode of being that maybe isn't their true self or who they would choose to be given different circumstances. She seemed to be excited by the "perks" of playing a sexual role, but at the same time she didn't appear to understand it fully and she had an air of innocence that Rise might have had in an earlier stage of his development into the tough guy he is today.
I'm not sure I'd give Tania that much credit. I just thought she was there to show how naive and immature Jesse was. And she was just a part of Jesse's life at this point (thanks to Rise), and so she was involved.
This book taught me a few things, the main one being that I'm white. Very white. I enjoyed Jesse and was fascinated by the relationship he had with his parents. I found the dialogue pretty foreign to me in terms of the words, although I could understand most of it. I'm not sure if I felt the characters were really developed that fully. It's like we were just kind of bumbling along with Jesse and I never got a real sense of these boys, a real feel for how scared or confident or confused or whatever they were. Other than the "I was confused, too" lines. Maybe that's because it's more middle grade than young adult.
It bugged me that they kept calling the book an autobiography when it's not. Why did they do that? I mean, Rise wasn't writing the thing. I know he was "telling" the story, but it was still Jesse's work. Am I missing all the irony here? Is it just because everything revolved around Rise, so the fact that Jesse's biography of him would be credited to Rise and called an "autobiography" just makes everything circle back to him again? Kind of like how the book Amadeus was really about Salieri and the ultimate irony was that Salieri was constantly being overshadowed by Amadeus, including when it came to the name of his own (Salieri's) story?
I digress. Didn't love this book. Didn't hate it. Probably thought it was more than "meh." Interesting. But lacking. But I love Walter Dean Myers, so I'm willing to keep it on a list or two.
Yes, it was painful. I kept flashing back to students I taught in Boston, one CHALLENGING boy in particular. I wouldn't be surprised if he was dead by now.
Autobiography's setting isn't too far from one of Myers's other books, 145th Street: Short Stories. I don't remember a whole lot (okay, ANYTHING) from that book but it added depth to imagine another group hanging out a couple blocks away.
I also felt pretty white - O.G. is Old Gangsta, right? But forgave the maybe not-quite-developed and rather rough writing style as Myers channeling Jesse. I was put off by how much time Jesse spends not knowing or understanding his friends. This is not admitted (shows weakness?) and everyone goes about bluffing. Tough guys. This is not a flaw in the book; I'm being critical of teen males, that's all. I found Jesse rather removed. He sat on the fence the whole time, confused and scared.
Myers made an effort to show these kids as "good" ones, young people with goals for success. And educated, at least quirkily -- Rise watches Sister Wendy, for heaven's sakes! He listens to Coltrane! Jesse is a vegetarian! I think Myers is trying to buck the automatic cocky thug label for inner city kids; I didn't buy it; it seemed forced.
Despite these characteristics, one knows Rise is doomed from the start. He's the bad influence and the only question is how far is he going to drag Jesse down with him. It's loose, without your typical beginning, middle and end, though it is circular -- funeral to funeral.
The artwork was great. Tania didn't do anything for me. Overall, a sad and thoughtful book. The "autobiography" title stuck me as a little odd, too, Eunice.
BTW: How did you guys pronounce "Rise?"
1) REESE like Reese's Pieces?
2) RYES like rhymes with eyes?
I did the first one.
Definitely "Ryes." I think.
I loved this book, but it made me uncomfortable and I still want to talk about why, but I haven't formulated the right questions yet.
Uncomfortable?
Excluded?
I felt like a square. And sad, very very sad.
(And O.G. is Original Gansta, btw.)
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